Where Windows 10 drivers are stored

After installing the drivers on a computer or laptop, they are copied into a single storage, and not remain in the location, from where you install them (however, they remain there too).

In this manual for beginners in detail about where Windows 10 drivers are stored, it is possible to delete drivers from there and additional information that can be useful.

Driver storage location

Files of installed drivers (.inf, .sys and others), and not only active at present time, but also ready to install are in various Windows 10 folders:

1. C: \ Windows \ System32 \ Drivers - Here are active .sys files, but without information files for installing .inf.
2. C: \ Windows \ System32 \ DriverStore \ FileRepository - Sets of drivers that are part of the driver and you are ready for re-installation, include a complete set of files.

   

3. C: \ Windows \ inf - Files .inf for active device drivers and important system drivers.
4. In some cases - in the folder Drvstore. in System32.

If we talk about the FileRepository folder, it can occupy many gigabytes on the disk: it all depends on the installed drivers and the number of devices for which they are installed, update frequencies (previous versions of the driver can also be stored).

The easiest way to go to the folder where the drivers are stored - run the conductor, copy and paste the full path to the folder to the address bar of the conductor and press Enter, the folder will immediately open.

Additional Information

And now answers to some questions related to driver folders and files, in them stored:

1. Is it possible to remove drivers from these folders? - Delete manually from the folder is undesirable, there is a risk of problems with the operation of devices both already installed and connected in the future.
2. But it is possible to clear the DriverStore \ FileRepository folder from old drivers to save space on the disk.
3. If you wish, you can create a backup of the drivers at a convenient location, while copying manually individual files will not be required.
4. The path to the driver used by a specific device can be obtained in the device manager, opening the device properties, and then clicking the "Details" button on the Driver tab. This will displays ways to the .sys driver files in C: \ Windows \ System32 \ Drivers, but not to the .inf installation files (in future updates of the Windows 10 device manager in the "Dravel" menu, sorting devices for .Inf Installation Drive).